HSA has received confirmation from the Ministry of Health that the Temporary Pandemic Pay will be paid out to Health Authority staff on October 9, 2020.
 
The $4 an hour payment applies both to regular and overtime hours worked by health care workers covered by the Health Science Professionals' Bargaining Association (HSPBA), Community Bargaining Association (CBA), and Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) collective agreements for the period March 15 to July 4. Union dues are not payable on the Temporary Pandemic Pay earnings.
 

As part of the Nurses Bargaining Association 2019-2022 collective agreement, effective April 1, 2020, HSA registered psychiatric nurses are eligible for partial reimbursement of fees paid to the BC College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP).

The rate of reimbursement has been set at $215 per member.

HSA’s Board of Directors has voted unanimously to waive the union’s policy on collecting union dues on all employment income to exclude employment income earned under the Temporary Pandemic Pay announced May 19.
 

The 2019-2022 Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) Collective Agreement includes a provision (Article 60) that requires health authorities (HA) and Providence Health Care (PHC) to implement a direct patient care staffing assessment process.

TO: HSA members working in Long Term Care

In an effort to slow the transmission of COVID-19 in BC’s hard-hit Long Term Care facilities, BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, issued two province-wide orders aimed at restricting movement of health care staff between Long Term Care facilities. The orders went into effect yesterday, Thursday March 26, 2020

As part of the new Nurses Bargaining Association 2019-2022 collective agreement, effective April 1, 2020, HSA registered psychiatric nurses are eligible for partial reimbursement of fees paid to the BC College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP).

The rate of reimbursement has been set at $215 per member.

HSA marks National Nursing Week with launch of new professional development fund for HSA’s registered psychiatric nurses

Health Sciences Association of BC announced today the establishment of a $115,000 Professional Development Fund available to all registered psychiatric nurses who are members of HSA.

“Registered psychiatric nurses are critical members of the health care team. HSA recognizes the importance of continuing education for health care professionals who deliver important care in a specialized field of nursing,” said HSA President Val Avery.

BC’s nurses have voted in favour of the tentative 2019-2022 provincial agreement reached between the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) and the Health Employers' Association of BC (HEABC).

More than 21,000 ballots were cast with 54 per cent of nurses voting to ratify the three-year deal that was reached in November 2018. 

Registered psychiatric nurses who are members of HSA rejected the terms of the tentative agreement with a 73 per cent no vote.

To call into tonight's telephone town hall meeting from 7-8 pm PST on the 2019-2022 tentative agreement reached for nurses, call 1-877-229-8493, ID code 115000

The Nurses Bargaining Association reached a tentative agreement with HEABC on November 25, 2018. The term of the agreement is April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2022.
 
HSA was represented at the bargaining table by staff negotiator Alyson Warner and member representative Nicole McIntosh, an RPN at St. Paul’s Hospital. They report that they had opportunities for input and relations were cordial until the final day of bargaining, when the NBA’s chief negotiator asked for the bargaining committee to agree to a tentative agreement without sharing the details of the tentative agreement.